Essequibo Coast hosts parade, exhibition

As Guyana observes the 180th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians to Guyana, the Sanatan Dharm Par Upkaaric Sabha held its Annual Road March, exhibition and cultural show on Saturday.
Hundreds braved the weather and walked from the Richmond Mandir to the Sparta Mandir on the Essequibo Coast. They were all decked in their brightly coloured Indian garments as they gyrated to the sound of tassa drumming along the path.

While in the compound of the Sparta Madir, the audience was treated to a rich cultural programme comprising dances, skits, poems and, more importantly, a brief lecture on how the first batch of East Indians arrived on Guyana’s shores 180 years ago.
This was done by Pandit Parmeshwar, while another prominent figure, Basir, reflected on the many struggles our fore-parents endured on the sugar plantations.
In addition, the children and their parents benefited from a mini-exhibition showcasing foods, tools, musical instruments, religious texts, pictures, and other items brought to Guyana by the East Indians when they arrived.